Hi,


I'm planning on flying my T67 from Headcorn to Amsterdam. I understand Schipol is very expensive to land at, is there anywhere else near by thats cheaper?



Thanks

Lelystad is the usual answer to this one. Haven't been there for some time so cannot offer recent info. No doubt someone who can will be along shortly....

There is also EHHV Hilversum. I haven't been recently.

AFAIK, Hilversum EHHV is the grassroots flying aerodrome in that part of the world. If you want a hard runway then indeed Lelystad, but EHRD Rotterdam could also serve. From what I read here, the club at Rotterdam must be most accommodating.

Is a fixed-ELT inside the aircraft still mandatory when entering the FIR?

You might find this information helpful.

KLM Jet Center Executive Handling (http://www.jetcenter.nl/Index.htm)

You will need slots and RNAV for EHAM.

Excellent service and stress you are GA on first contact with Amsterdam so you get vectored for 22/04.

They are surprsingly very GA friendly at Amsterdam albeit a bit pricey but I suppose that depends on why you want to go there. KLM have excellent conference facilities - so suits my requirements. For a $60 hamburger - done it once at night with a few mates - who fell asleep the whole trip back but they did have an interesting tour downtown which left them somewhat sleepy.

On sheer cost grounds now it's difficult to disregard easyJet. :{

AFAIK, Hilversum EHHV is the grassroots flying aerodrome in that part of the world. If you want a hard runway then indeed Lelystad, but EHRD Rotterdam could also serve. From what I read here, the club at Rotterdam must be most accommodating.

Hilversum (EHHV) is closest and it is a fun place, but public transport next to nonexistant there so you may have to get a taxi to get to a train that will take you to Amsterdam. Also, the low (700') and close circuits are very different from the British standard circuit and are pretty demanding with sailplanes, microlights, balloons and parachutists all operating at the same time.

Public transport at Rotterdam (EHRD) is excellent. Rotterdam has mandatory handling as well, a little cheaper than Amsterdam but still very expensive. The trick is to get invited personally by the Rotterdam flying club (VCR) so that the airport authorities can direct you there and collect a much more normal fee from the club. This has to be arranged in advance. For further information call VCR operations at +31104153353.

Flew into Schipol 2 years ago (DA40). Landing + 2 days parking was Euros 310 incl. mandatory handling.

Going to Amsterday myself in Sept. in the DA40; but plan on going to Lelystad this time - just got the fees today: Euros 17 landing fee + Euros 15 per night parking (all incl. VAT).

Agree with what's been said before. To summarize:

EHAM: Close to Amsterdam, good public transport into town but don't expect much change from 300 euros (for a SEP). And in defence - you do get first class treatment, both by ATC and by the JetCenter, for that money.
EHHV: Geographically close but virtually no public transport into town. Grass field with gliders and whatnot. Longest runway about 700m, surrounded by trees. Need to be very careful with your circuit procedures.
EHLE: Well equipped uncontrolled field. Relatively expensive for an uncontrolled field but not too bad. Reasonable public transport into Amsterdam. (Haven't checked, but I think it's about half an hour by bus, then about 50 minutes by train to Amsterdam CS.)
EHRD: Very GA-friendly controlled field. If you get handling via the Vliegclub Rotterdam the prices are very reasonable. I was there this afternoon and no less than two foreign planes were parked at our platform so getting handling via the club is by no means an exception. Reasonable public transport into Amsterdam (half an hour by bus, 45 minutes by train).

Schipol is a great experience. I went there for one of my dual navexs from blackbushe. It was more like 100 eu then, and you have to make a 'threshold base' approach for 22 which needs to be thought about before you start, otherwise easy enough.

EHAM was about £12 when I last went there - shows how long it's been.

EHHV was always a friendly place & you could usually cadge a lift to the station from one of the locals :).

The suggestion (Rotterdam, EHRD) is also very expensive (around EUR 150,-) due to mandatory handling, so would not recommend that.
Handling via the Vliegclub Rotterdam is not very common, normally only occasionally arranged for external aircraft visiting one of the members. At least this needs to be arranged upfront.
(I know, I am a member)

You will need slots and RNAV for EHAM.


* No you don't need that for a T67. Slot management is not interested in under 2T aircraft.

* Count on € 160-ish in landing fees and about the same figure for handling so just upward of € 300. This includes 24 hour parking :)


Alternatives :
EHHV has 3 nice grass runways and will set you back only € 15 or so (which includes parking). Europcar rental office is in Hilversum town, which is about 4 kilometers by bike or 7 kilometers by taxi.

EHLE has an instrument approach, and I believe the Sixt rental office is also about 4 kilometers away. But you are then 70 km from the centre of Amsterdam.

EHLE has an instrument approach

...but you're only allowed to use it outside daylight hours, or outside airfield operating hours, or something like that. You can't even use it for practice, and it's an NDB approach only. The ILS is not certified and is turned off, to the best of my knowledge.

During normal operating hours you are supposed to adhere to the VFR circuit procedures. Even a straight-in VFR approach is not appreciated. Spend half an hour at the balcony of Flantuas (good restaurant on top of the Martinair building) on a beautiful Saturday afternoon and you know why.

Backpacker is right. The Dutch AIP says (section "remarks")



IFR from MON-FRI only outside UDP, during OPR HR AD.


and in the operating hours of the airport, you find


MON-FRI: 0700-2000 (0600-1900);
SAT, SUN and HOL: 0800-1800 (0700-1700) or end of UDP whichever is earlier. Outside OPR HR AD O/R.


so forget about the Lelystad suggestion.

I'm afraid this is another painful example of the Dutch CAA, and by extension the Dutch Ministerie van Verkeer and Waterstaat not understanding the utility of General Aviation as a way of transport.

They complain a lot about their "fileprobleem", yet write rules like that to de facto prohibit flying to Amsterdam (at least if you want IFR as a back up for Anglo-Dutch weather).